The Positive Intersection Between Neurodiversity and Adventure Sports

The Positive Intersection Between Neurodiversity and Adventure Sports

Join us for an exciting in-person event at Tailfin HQ in Bristol where we'll dive into how neurodiversity and adventure sports come together in the best way! Designed for group leaders and facilitators, or anyone who is simply curious about wanting to know more about beng neurodiverse, as well as those who are neurodiverse themselves who want to undertsand how adventure sports support the way we think and process the world around us. Discover unique perspectives, what it means to be AuADHD, strategies and mechanisms for supporting the neurodiverse mind—all in a non-judgemental space for reflection and discussion. Whether you're an adventurer, an outdoor education provider, neurodiverse or neurotypical, or simply curious, this is a perfect chance to connect, learn, and celebrate being diverse.

A morning workshop, followed by a free-to-join (approximately) two-hour social gravel ride from Pedal Progression in Ashton Court from 2 to 4 pm, where conversation around being neurodiverse is positively encouraged! Led by Olly from Pedal Progression. Some proficiency in riding off-road terrain will be required.

Exploring the Intersection Between Neurodiversity and Adventure Sports—the positives, the challenges, finding belonging vs fitting in, and the paradoxes of being AuADHD

Aim

We’ll explore:

• What it means to be neurodiverse, especially AuADHD, and how to support neurodiverse minds
• Perceptions, misunderstandings, identity, the positives and evolving consensus
• How adventure sports can be empowering environments for learning, self-exploration, and personal growth
• The extrinsic and intrinsic barriers to inclusion
• Ways to make adventure sports/cycling more accessible, welcoming, and supportive for neurodiverse individuals
• Bring together neurodiverse and non-neurodiverse individuals through our shared passion for adventure sports

This workshop provides a non-judgmental, inclusive space for discussion, reflection, and sharing lived experiences.

Workshop Overview

1. Reflections on my journey from being undiagnosed to discovering I’m AuADHD, and how adventure sports have helped me navigate life, grow, build connections and find belonging vs fitting in
2. Discussing the challenges and triumphs of engaging in adventure sports as an ND individual.
3. Perspectives on supporting ND individuals in outdoor and adventure settings.
4. Come curious, leave enlightened, with ideas of how to create proactive toolkits for your environment

Each talk will be followed by a breakout session with questions that aim to elicit participants to connect, share experiences and perspectives, and collaborate on practical strategies.

Schedule

Workshop Introduction – Scott Cornish

• Overview of aims, structure, and expected outcomes

Talk 1: Takeaways frommy lived experience

• Navigating life as undiagnosed AuADHD and its paradoxes
• How outdoor sports helped me develop on many levels, discover my skillsets and create connections
• Perceptions on what carrying the “label” means
• Managing Emotional Dysregulation and Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria
• Finding identity, community and belonging through adventure sports
• Using neurodiverse strengths to excel and find fulfilment in adventure sports

Breakout Session 1: Exploring The Neurodiverse Journey —persepctives on what it means to be neurodiverse in the context of adventure sport space

Break (15 mins) Tea, coffee, drinks will be available

Talk 2: Supporting the ND brain through adventure sports—a discussion with Olly from Pedal Progression

• Practical insights from working with ND individuals
• Approaches that foster inclusion and confidence in adventure sports, from language to validation
• Building self-esteem and self-confidence in ND individuals
• Intrinsic and extrinsic barriers to inclusion in adventure sports
• What sport can teach us about ourselves and our abilities

Breakout Session 2: Collaborative dscussion on how we can create improved environments in the adventure sport space where neurodiverse individuals cn thrive.

Expected Outcomes

By the end of the workshop, participants will:

• Deepen understanding and experiences of different neurodiverse traits and crossovers, such as the paradox of being both ADHD and autistic
• Gain insights from lived experiences and how participation in adventure sports can help ND individuals thrive, and use those learnt skills in everyday life
• Takeaway strategies, tips, and tools for navigating environments in ways that work for each individual and those around them
• Identify ways to break down barriers to accessibility and participation in adventure sports
• Celebrate the idea that diversity is a natural and valuable part of the human ecosystem

The workshops will be from 10am to 12.15pm, with drinks and snacks available during the break. Participants are invited to arrive from 930am to grab drinks and meet others.